
From Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau Full-Day Trip with Private Transfer
- Pickup available
- Skip the ticket line
- Duration options: 6 - 13 hours
From
$79.33
per person
With the world distracted by war, the Nazis brutally reshaped the demographics of Europe in the south of Poland. The harrowing truth wasn't revealed until far too late, but here are a few of the many things you'll learn on your tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Auschwitz-Birkenau – or Auschwitz II – was used as a death camp from 1942, primarily for Jews. Auschwitz I had already been holding Polish political prisoners for two years.
There was a third camp too. Monowitz – or Auschwitz III – was set up to provide slave labor for IG Farben. The Allies dissolved the chemical company the war.
90% were Jews, but thousands of Poles, Romani, Soviets, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals also died at Auschwitz. As did prisoners from other nationalities.
Not even most Germans knew what was happening at the camps. Arrivals were met with the slogan "Work sets you free." In hindsight it's hard to say how convincing that actually was.
Disguised as a farmer in Gottrupel, Rudolf Höss evaded capture for a year after the war. In spite of his expressed remorsed, he was hung outside the camp's crematorium in 1947.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau museum is open daily from 8am except for January 1st, December 25th, and Easter Sunday. It closes at 3pm from December to February, 4pm in March and November, 5pm in April and October, 6pm in May and September, and 7pm from June to August. The site can be accessed for free but it is advisable to take a tour. If you decide to do so, book your tickets in advance. The best ones fill up very quickly!
The easiest way is simply to book an all-in-one tour that leaves from the city. Alternatively, inexpensive buses frequently leave from the basement floor of Krakow's main bus station. You can also take a train to the nearby town of Oświęcim.
Krakow is a wonderful city with a great deal of attraction to please tourists. Though Auschwitz may be an essential part of your trip, it can be emotionally overwhelming. We recommend that you leave it till last.
Highly recommended! Very friendly staff and the guide was excellent. Great value for money and the tour in general was really interesting. Unfortunately I forgot to go to the ATM beforehand so couldn't tip, so don't be like me and remember to tip :)
The guide plays a key role in this excursion. We came across a very nice and polite girl. Despite her young age, she knew the history of this place very well. She spoke perfect English. Thanks to her, we were able to penetrate deeper into the topic.
It is very easy to make a reservation and find a meeting point. The group leader checks everyone's tickets before boarding the bus. It is better to arrive a little earlier, as the time indicated on the reservation is the departure time.
The meeting point is easy to find bus arrives at the time indicated on the ticket. The leader of the group was at the meeting place. Organization at the highest level both at the meeting point and throughout the entire excursion.
The meeting point is easy to find indicated on the ticket. The leader of the group was at the meeting place. Organization at the highest level both at the meeting point and throughout the entire excursion.